Nipple



T. W. MILLER Jan. 7, 1 930.

NIPPLE Filed Sept. 22, 1927 Thomas WMiller Inventor Attornegs Patented Jan, 7, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" THOMAS W. MILLER, OF ASHLAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE FAULTLES S RUBBER COM.-

PANY, OF ASHLAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO NIPPLE Application filed September 22, 1927. Serial No. 221,388.

My invention relates to nipples, and particularly to Combination cork and dropper nipples formed as a bulb provided with a neck adapted to close the mouth of abottle and vide a new and improved nipple of this type.

In the drawings accompanying this specifi- 1 cation and forming a part of this application I have shown, for purposes of illustration, one form which my invention may assume, and in these drawings: 'Figure 1 is an elevation showing this illustrative embodiment of my invention in connection with a tube assembled therewith and a bottle adapted to be assembled therewith,

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section similar to Figure 2 but showing thenipple in position assembled in the mouth of a bottle and carrying a tube of relatively small diameter while- Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure?) but showing the nipple carrying a tube of relatively large diameter.

The embodiment of my invention herein shbwn comprises a nipple 11 formed throughoiit of soft rubber, comprisinga bulb 12- and a neck 13 united by means of 'a body 14, pro

vided on the outside of the neck-13 with an exterior surface 15 for engagement with the walls 16 of the mouth 17 of a bottle 18, formed slightly larger than themou th 17 to firmly engage the walls 12, and provided on its body 14 with a flange l9 limiting the extent to which the nipple 11 may be inserted within the bottle 18. The nipple 11 is provided in 7 its bore 20 with a pair of interior surfaces21 and 22 disposed one interiorly of the body 14 and the other interiorly of the tip of the neck 13, both adapted to engage the exterior of the tube 23 cooperating with the nipple 11 to form the dropper, and both formed'slightly smaller than the exterior of the tube 23 to cause the nipple 11 to firmly grip the tube 23. The nipple 11 further is provided in its bore with a recess 24'disposed opposite the ex- 5 to receive within its bore a tube cooperating with the bulb to form a dropper, and the principal object of my invention is to proterior surface 15, and on its exterior with a reduced portion 25 opposite the interior surface22, and has the interior surface 21 disposed above the neck 18, thus to permit the interior surfaces 21 and 22 to beforced outwardly by the tube 23 while the tube 23 is assembled within the nipple l1, and the ex--- terior surface 15 to be forced inwardly by the walls 16 of the bottle 18 while the nipple v 1.1 is assembled in the mouth 17 of the bottle 11, thus to provide for thezyield necessary because of the formation of the exterior surface -1'5 of'slightly larger diameter-than the opening 17 of the bottle 18, and of the interior surfaces 21 and 22 of slightly smaller diameter/ than the exterior 'of the tube 23, all

by flexing of the nipple, and without material compression of the nipple.

Under these circumstances it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the nip-- ple herein shown will tightly close the bottle, and tightly gri the tube, despite irregularities in size of t e bottle, and despite irregularities in size of the tube, and without requiring the bottle and tube to be accurately dimensioned, and will grip the bottle and the tube tightly, resiliently, without compression of the material of the nipple, and without danger of breakage of either the tube or the bottle, the functioning of the nipple with tubes of relatively small diameter and with tubes of relatively large diameter being shown respectively in Figure 3 and in Figure 4. p

Under these circumstances it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiment of my invention herein shown and described accomplishes at least theprincipal object'of my invention.

At the same time it also will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the particular or gripping a tube inserted into said bore,

rovided on its outside with an exterior surace for gripping the interior walls of such mouth of such bottle, having said bore recessed opposite said exterior surface, and having any part of said outside to enter said mouth, and lying opposite said interior surface, formed to provide space between said part and the wall of said mouth, whereby said exterior surface may be forced inwardly by the walls of said mouth while said interior surface is forced outwardly by the tube, by flexing of the nipple, and without appreciable compression of the material of the nipple.

2. A combination cork and dropper nipple, for corking the mouth of arelatively straight- .mouthed bottle, formed of flexible material,

provided in its bore with two interior surfaces spaced longitudinally of said bore for gripping a tube inserted into said bore, provided on its outside with an exterior surface for gripping the interior walls of such mouth of such bottle, having-said bore recessed opposite said exterior surface, and having any part of said outside to enter said mouth, and lying opposite said interior surfaces, formed to lie clear of the walls of said mouth when in inserted position, whereby said exterior surface may be forced inwardly by the walls of said mouth while said interior surfaces are forced outwardly by the tube, by flexing of the nipple, and without appreciable compression of the material of the nipple.

3. A combination cork and dropper nipple, for corking the mouth of a relatively straight-mouthed bottle, formed of flexible material, provided in its bore with an interior surface for gripping a tube inserted into said bore, provided on its outside below'said interior surface with an exterior surface for ripping the interior walls of such mouth of such bottle, having said bore recessed opposite said exterior surface, and having any part of said outside to enter said mouth formed opposite said interior surface to lie clear of the adjacent wall of said mouth, whereby said exterior surface may be forced inwardly by the walls of said mouth while said interior surface is forced outwardly by the tube, by flexing of the nipple, and without appreciable compression of the material of the nipple.

4. A combination cork and dropper nipple,

for corking the mouth of a relatively straight-mouthed bottle, formed of flexible material, provided in its bore adjacent the open end thereof with an interior surface for gripping a tube inserted into said bore, provided on its outside above said interior surface with an exterior surface for gripping the interior walls of such mouth of such bottle, having said bore recessed opposite said exterior surface, and having said outside reduced opposite said interior surface to provide space between the reduced outside and the adjacent wall of said mouth, whereby said exterior surface may be forced inwardly by the. walls of said mouth while said interior surface is forced outwardly by the tube, by flexing of the nipple, andwithout ap preciable compression of the material of the nipple.

5. A combination cork and dropper nipple, for corking the mouth of a relatively straight-mouthed bottle, formed of flexible material, provided in its bore with inner and outer interior surfaces spaced along said bore for gripping a tube inserted into said bore, provided on its outside between said interior surfaces with an exterior surface for gripping the interior walls of such month of such bottle, having said bore recessed between said interior surfaces opposite said exterior'surface, and having any part of said outside to enter said mouth, and lying opposite said interior surfaces, formed to lie clear of engagement with the wall of said mouth, including having recessed that part of said exterior, opposite said inner interior surface, whereby said exterior surface may be forced inwardly by the walls of said mouth while said interior surfaces are forced outwardly by the tube, by flexing of the nipple, and without a preciable compression of the material of t e' nipple.

6. A combination cork and dropper nipple, for corking the mouth of a relatively straight-mouthed bottle, formed of soft rubber, provided in its bore with an interior surface for gripping a tube inserted into said bore, provided on its outside with an exterior surface for gripping the interior walls of such month of such bottle, having said bore recessed opposite said exteriorsurface, and

having any part of said outside to enter said mouth, and lying opposite said interiorsurface, formed to lie clear of the wall of said mouth, whereby said exterior surface may be forced inwardly by the walls of said mouth. while said interior surface is forced outwardly by the tube, by flexing of the nipple, and without appreciable compression of the material of the nipple.

7. A combination cork and dropper nipple element of flexiblematerial having a bulb and a bottle mouth engaging portion, said element being provided with a bore therewithin recessed opposite said portion, and said element being provided with an interior tube gripping section, the exterior surfaces of said element opposite said section being configured to lie clear of engagement with a bottle mouth when said element is applied thereto, whereby relative flexing of the bottle mouth engaging portion and of the tube gripping section is permitted.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

THOMAS W. MILLER. 

